Boks dealt double blow before kick-off

The Springboks have made late changes to their starting XV for Saturday’s Nations Championship clash against England at Ellis Park. chickenroadslot.pro

Siya Kolisi and Eben Etzebeth have both been ruled out of the match.

Unconfirmed reports emanating from the Springbok camp say that the uncapped Paul de Villiers will start in place of Kolisi at openside flank with Pieter-Steph du Toit moving into the second row.

Cameron Hanekom will start in the No 7 jersey having initially been named among the replacements.

Ben-Jason Dixon and Cobus Wiese are expected to move onto the bench.

More to follow …

ALSO: England suffer late setback

Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images

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Éliminé de la Coupe du monde 2026 après sa défaite face à la Colombie (1-0), le Ghana a payé son manque d’expérience, selon son sélectionneur Carlos Queiroz.

Le technicien portugais estime que ses joueurs n’ont pas réussi à gérer la pression d’un rendez-vous aussi important.

Le seul but de la rencontre a été inscrit dès la 14e minute par Jhon Arias, à un moment où les Black Stars tentaient de réorganiser leur défense après la blessure de Marvin Senaya, remplacé par Alidu Seidu.

En conférence de presse, Queiroz a expliqué avoir rapidement senti son équipe en difficulté sur le plan mental. D’après lui, plusieurs joueurs se sont laissés gagner par la pression et n’ont pas affiché la sérénité nécessaire pour rivaliser à ce niveau de compétition.

Le sélectionneur a également rappelé que son groupe est composé de nombreux jeunes éléments, estimant qu’ils ont encore besoin de temps pour acquérir la maturité indispensable aux grands rendez-vous internationaux. Selon lui, le talent et l’enthousiasme ne suffisent pas lorsqu’il s’agit de disputer une Coupe du monde.

Carlos Queiroz a enfin reconnu la supériorité de la Colombie, jugeant sa qualification pleinement méritée. Il a regretté que le but encaissé très tôt ait perturbé les plans de son équipe. Malgré une réaction plus convaincante après la pause, le Ghana n’est jamais parvenu à prendre réellement le contrôle de la rencontre.

The post Coupe du Monde 2026 : Le manque d’expérience a brisé le rêve du Ghana appeared first on AfricaFootUnited.

Malgré l’élimination du Cap-Vert en huitième de finale de la Coupe du monde 2026 après une défaite 3-2 contre l’Argentine, Pedro « Bubista » Leitao a tenu à saluer la prestation de son équipe, convaincu que ce parcours marque une étape importante dans l’histoire du football cap-verdien.

Le sélectionneur a reconnu que la déception était immense dans le vestiaire après cette courte défaite face aux champions du monde en titre. Il a décrit des joueurs très touchés par l’élimination, certains en larmes, mais également unis dans l’adversité.

« Il y a beaucoup de tristesse parce que nous étions tout près de poursuivre l’aventure. Mais voir les joueurs se soutenir et partager cette émotion montre que cette équipe possède une véritable âme. C’est aussi dans ces moments que l’on progresse », a-t-il déclaré.

Le technicien s’est surtout montré fier de la manière dont ses joueurs ont rivalisé avec l’une des meilleures sélections de la planète. Selon lui, tenir tête à l’Argentine pendant l’ensemble des 120 minutes témoigne du courage et de la qualité de son groupe.

Bubista estime également que ses hommes ont prouvé leur valeur en inscrivant deux buts à l’Albiceleste et en poussant la rencontre jusqu’à la prolongation. Pour lui, peu d’équipes sont capables d’inquiéter autant les champions du monde.

Le Cap-Vert, 67e au classement FIFA, avait déjà surpris durant la phase de groupes en tenant en échec l’Espagne puis l’Uruguay. Même si l’aventure s’arrête face à l’Argentine, le sélectionneur considère que cette première participation au Mondial dépasse le simple cadre sportif et reflète le caractère ainsi que l’identité de toute une nation insulaire.

The post Coupe du Monde 2026 – Cap-Vert : Entre fierté et amertume appeared first on AfricaFootUnited.

Replacement flyhalf Ben Donaldson missed an 82nd-minute penalty goal as the Wallabies suffered a narrow defeat to Ireland in Sydney on Saturday.

That came after replacement prop Tom Clarkson had scored a late converted try to give the Irish a 33-31 lead.

Five Irish players dotted down to share the spoils and inflict more pain on an unlucky Wallabies’ side who have now lost eight of their last nine Tests.

“That Test will stand out to us, it was not perfect by any means,” said Ireland captain Dan Sheehan. “But to be able to close out games like that, you know, you can’t buy that.

“So we’ll be proud of that win. We have a lot to work on for next week and the week after, but we’ll be proud of that.”

Australia bolted out of the blocks in front of a sold-out Sydney Football Stadium in a hectic first half to reach the break with a 24-19 advantage.

But Andy Farrell’s Ireland kept fighting to clock their sixth straight victory over the Wallabies dating back to 2018, with Clarkson barging over at the death and flyhalf Sam Prendergast adding the extras.

Donaldson had the chance to win the match with a penalty, but his kick sailed wide.

The Wallabies now meet France in Brisbane next weekend while Ireland travel north of Sydney to Newcastle where Eddie Jones’ Japan will be waiting.

France will be gunning to bounce back from a 34-32 loss against the All Blacks in Christchurch to open their campaign while Japan are on a high after seeing off Italy 27-10 in Tokyo.

REPORT: All Blacks edge France to launch Rennie era

Ireland came into the game as a well-oiled machine after a gruelling Six Nations campaign.

But they were missing a slew of injured players and pacey wing Rob Baloucoune was ruled out with a tight hamstring an hour before kick-off, replaced by Jimmy O’Brien.

In contrast, it was eighth-ranked Australia’s first Test since their loss to France in Paris in November.

But they were on a mission.

Buoyed by the raucous crowd, the hosts made an immediate impact, opening the scoring in the fourth minute for a sensational start.

They capitalised on Ireland losing a lineout on their own throw and pressed forward before a line break to Dylan Pietsch who gathered on the half-volley and crossed in the corner.

Flyhalf Carter Gordon fluffed the conversion and Ireland regrouped to hit straight back, with flanker Cian Prendergast barging over from the back of the ruck and his brother Sam adding the extras.

It was end-to-end stuff and an attack-minded Wallabies quickly reclaimed the lead, courtesy of fullback Jock Campbell in his first Test in four years after Gordon exploded through the midfield.

Once again, Gordon missed the conversion and once again Ireland came storming back.

They earned a penalty close to the Wallabies line and Sheehan took a quick tap before offloading to flank Josh van der Flier.

But the frantic pace was unrelenting and an impressive Australia stunned with two more converted tries in the space of three minutes.

Lock Josh Canham bagged the first from a pick-and-go play and scrumhalf Ryan Lonergan added a second after winger Max Jorgensen streaked clear and offloaded to the scrumhalf who did the rest.

There was still more to come before the fans could catch their breath at the break, with scrumhalf Jamison Gibson-Park finishing off a stunning break from inside their own 22 as the hooter sounded.

REPORT: Japan put Azzurri to the sword

The visitors kept pressing and edged 26-24 ahead soon after the restart with fullback Hugo Keenan finding a gap in the defence, only for Australia to again respond with Tate McDermott taking a quick-tap penalty and squeezing over.

Sheehan was unfortunate to have another try disallowed on review for obstruction but their intense pressure was rewarded with three minutes left when Clarkson shattered Australian hopes.

“I thought our attack, our defence was pretty good, but it’s just that our discipline really hurt us there,” said Australia captain Harry Wilson.

“A team like Ireland really do make you pay, and quite disappointed with that result in the end.”

WALLABIES – Tries: Dylan Pietsch, Jock Campbell, Josh Canham, Ryan Lonergan, Tate McDermott. Conversions: Carter Gordon (3).
IRELAND – Tries: Sam Prendergast, Josh van der Flier, Jamison Gibson-Park, Hugo Keenan, Thomas Clarkson. Conversions: Prendergast (4).

Photo: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

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Cam Roigard and Will Jordan scored twice each as New Zealand held on to edge an under-strength France 34-32 in a nine-try thriller in Christchurch on Saturday to open the inaugural Nations Championship.

It was the All Blacks’ first Test under new coach Dave Rennie and he saw France, who scored four tries, run his team close despite fielding a line-up without any players from top clubs Toulouse and Montpellier.

New Zealand scored five tries in total, but captain Ardie Savea admitted his side had been given a severe Test by the French.

“It was tough. The French were quality tonight, when we had the ball in our hands, we were dangerous,” Savea told ITV Sport.

“A Test match is always going to bring its challenges. France came to play and put us under pressure. I am proud of the boys for what they put in.”

Fabien Galthie had his side start at a frantic tempo playing with great pace and accuracy in the opening exchanges.

Record French try scorer Damian Penaud took his total to 41 in just the second minute as he cantered over the line.

In the build-up, full-back Max Spring was hit high by Ruben Love, earning the fly-half a yellow card and crowning a horror opening two minutes for the Rennie era.

A man down, New Zealand started to find their feet and struck back in the eighth minute through wing Jordan, after Savea earned a turnover in a good position.

It was a rare success for New Zealand at the breakdown as France won quick ball and dealt well with any attempted All Blacks disruption, leaving the hosts scrambling on defence.

Finding momentum

After Love’s return, New Zealand’s running game came to life as he and Damian McKenzie made forays into the French half.

Peter Lakai gave New Zealand the lead in the 21st minute, put through after a McKenzie break and a fine inside pass from Caleb Clarke.

A pair of French penalties for Maxime Lucu nudged his team in front until a Roigard snipe from the back of the ruck gave New Zealand a 19-13 lead at the break.

France started the faster again in the second half as Antoine Hastoy scored in the 47th minute after a Theo Attissogbe basketball-style pass over three markers.

Roigard had his second try moments later, before Attissogbe struck for France after a Fabien Brau-Boirie try was disallowed for a knock-on.

Jordan scored to go joint second all time for the All Blacks on 47 Test tries, and for the first time New Zealand had breathing space at 34-25 with nine minutes to go.

But France struck back again, Matthieu Jalibert bundling over the line with two minutes remaining.

But New Zealand’s forwards retained possession from the restart to see out the clock and hung on for victory.

“France are very unpredictable and like to play what is in front of them and there was a lot of French flair, so credit to them,” Roigard said on ITV sport.

“I am proud of the boys for hanging in there.”